It is not an exaggeration to say that though as a Christian I
am aware of the riches of wisdom found in the Scriptures, I am not fully aware
of how rich those riches actually are. I tend to be slow to learn and most of
the time when I read an ancient text I think of what I’ve already learned from
it instead of patiently, unhurriedly observing the text with care to see what
it says. Such careful reading requires waiting in silence, a posture that does
not come to me naturally.
I know, for example, that the Scriptures bless music as a
good gift of God. The longest single book in the Old Testament, after all, is
the Psalms, nature itself is said to sing in delight (Isaiah 55:12; Psalms
98:7-8), and even God the Almighty the prophet Zephaniah records, will burst
into song at the consummation of all things.
The Lord, your God, is
in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with
gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud
singing
as on a day of festival.
(3:17-18)
Don’t you wonder what that
will be like?
In 1986 jazz pianist and theologian William Edgar wrote a little
book that helped me see music in the pages of Scripture in a fresh and much
fuller way. His eye as a musician observed examples of music in the text that I
had not noticed, in the sort of detail I had not seen. Edgar’s book, Taking Note of Music (London, SPCK) is I
believe now, sadly, out of print but if you can find a used copy, buy it.
Here is Dr. Edgar’s list of the types of music he observes in the
pages of Scripture, complete with references so you can see the specific texts
yourself.
“The following sample of song species from the Bible,” Edgar
writes, “shows both the extensiveness of musical function and the Godward
commitment of the various forms.
Work songs (Numbers
21:17-18; Isaiah 16:10; 27:2; Jeremiah 25:30; 48:33; Hosea 2:17; Zechariah 4:7)
Music connected with
war, marching, and victory (Numbers 21:27-30; Psalm 68; 2
Chronicles 20:21; Numbers 10:35-36; Ex 15:20; Judges 5:1; 1 Samuel 21:12; Psalm
24:7-10)
Songs for instruction,
prophesy and mutual edification (Deuteronomy
3:19; 1 Kings 4:32; 2 Kings 3:15; 1 Chronicles 25:1-3; Colossians 3:16)
Love songs, wedding
music, songs of seduction (Psalm 45; Song of Songs 2:12;
Ezekiel 33:32; Isaiah 5:1; Genesis 31:27; Jeremiah 25:10; 33:11; Isaiah
23:15-16)
Entertainment (Job 21:12; Isaiah 24:9; 2 Samuel 19:35; Lamentations 5:14; Daniel
6:18; Amos 6:5)
Music with dance (Exodus15:20; 32:18-19; 1 Samuel 18:6-7; 21:12; 29:5; Psalm
30:11-12; 68:25; 87:7; Matthew 11:17)
Songs of derision (Job 30:9; Lamentations 3:14, 63; Isaiah 14:4)
Mourning and lamentation (2 Samuel 1:18-27; 1 Kings 13:30; 2 Chronicles
35:25; Psalm 69:12; Job 30:31; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Jeremiah 9:16-17; 22:18; Ezekiel
27:30-32)
A close examination of any of these references,” Edgars adds, “will
reveal that in no case is the use of music neutral. It is religiously
conditioned, either in covenant obedience or rebellion” [pp. 48-49].
It’s worth taking the time to look all these texts up and considering
them with care. Think of the exercise as not just a study of music in Scripture
but of sharpening our powers of observation. Then sit down and enjoy some
music, unhurriedly and without doing anything else except listening.
This entry was posted
at Monday, April 16, 2012
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Listening,
Music,
Scripture
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